Caithness and Sutherland bakers chosen for Highland Shortbread Showdown
Three shortbread bakers have been picked to represent Caithness and Sutherland in the 2025 Highland Shortbread Showdown.
Fiona Beattie from the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, Connor Macleod of Thurso’s Pentland Hotel and Darren Munro from the Northern Sands Hotel in Dunnet were shortlisted as finalists from the far north after a regional heat in the Pentland Hotel on Thursday.
Judges for the regional heat were Fiona Polson, from the River Bothy at Berriedale, Gary Reid from Reid’s Bakery and Rebecca Wymer from No Nonsense Nutrition, both based in Thurso.
Rebecca said: “We had a wonderful morning of tasting, and it was brilliant to see so many entries from the area. Well done to everyone who entered and especially to our top three.”
The 2025 Highland Shortbread Showdown grand final will be held at Eden Court in Inverness on Saturday, March 8.
The competition is organised by Visit Inverness Loch Ness with support from other destination management organisations, including Venture North.
Last year’s final attracted more than 1500 members of the public keen to taste samples and learn more about the businesses taking part.
Prizes at the final will be awarded for the best traditional and flavoured shortbreads and the public’s choice, as well as an overall winner.
The final will welcome returning judges Jeni Hardie from Bad Girl Bakery in Inverness and Kirsten Gilmour from KJ’s Bothy Bakery in Grantown-on-Spey. Two new judges complete the panel – Paul Mackintosh, from Mackenzie’s Bakery on Skye, and Kelly Tadd, a well-known foodie and creator of the social media account @haimandawa.
Susan Barrie, tourism engagement coordinator at Venture North, said: “The standard of our entries was incredibly high and it was clear that the judges had a challenging task tasting them all.
“We thank all of the businesses that took the time to enter our regional heat and wish the finalists representing the far north all the best as they aim to win the Highland Shortbread Showdown crown next month.”
The Highland Shortbread Showdown is supported by Williamson Foodservice.
At last year’s Caithness and Sutherland regional heat in Mackays Hotel, Wick, the judges selected two versions of shortbread made by Patricia Custer and one by David Buchanan.
